Marriage to Bono can be tough but Ireland keeps us grounded

Bono's wife, Ali Hewson, has said that she couldn't imagine living anywhere but Ireland.

The down-to-earth wife of the U2 singer said she feels that staying in Ireland has given the family the stability they needed.

Ali (48) described her life at home as "rounded but frantic" but said it is important her family grew up here.

"It helps for us to live here, where we're part of the community," Ali said. "Ireland is what keeps us grounded -- the Irish are no-nonsense and we're Irish and it's home."

And the founder of the EDUN fashion label said that it helps that family and friends all live relatively close to the couple's mansion in Killiney, Dublin.

"My mum and dad are always close by and so is Bono's brother and the rest of U2," she added.

And it seems as if Ali is not perturbed by Bono's many female fans or rock-star status.

"It's about having respect for each other -- allowing each other the space to grow and respecting that growth," she said.

In the interview with Harpers Bazaar, the Dubliner revealed that her marriage is often difficult, particularly when Bono has to travel with U2.

"There is no fairy tale," she said. "As in any marriage, there's a lot of hard work. But if you can get through the difficult moments, then you enter a new phase of a relationship that is better than before."

The couple who have two daughters, Jordan (19) and Memphis Eve (17) and two sons, Elijah (9) and John (7), first dated as young teenagers. Bono was 14 when he turned to Ali after his mother died from a brain aneurysm at her own father's funeral.

faith

"I don't think Bono would want to lose another woman in his life," she revealed.

"Knowing someone's memories is when you really know them inside out -- when you've grown up with them and made that journey through adulthood together," she added.

Ali is the patron of Chernobyl Children's Project International, the organisation which works with children, families and communities who are affected by the nuclear disaster. And the human rights campaigner said that her belief in God has got her through some of the more difficult times in her life.

"I couldn't live without faith," Ali said. "I would find that a very dark place to be."